Greg Rusedski thinks Wimbledon could be an ideal likelihood for Coco Gauff to show the web page in her rivalry in opposition to Iga Swiatek because the 1997 US Open runner-up has the 20-year-old American as one of many title favorites at The Championships however not the present world No. 1.
On her solution to sealing an already her fourth French Open title, Swiatek ousted Gauff 6-2 6-4 within the semifinal because the 23-year-old Pole now has 5 Grand Slam titles in her assortment. However for Gauff, not profitable her first French Open title wasn’t the one damaging factor about her run at this 12 months’s Roland Garros as dropping once more simply to Swiatek stays a giant concern – the American tennis star has only one win in 12 matches in opposition to the Pole.
Nevertheless, former world No. 4 Rusedski believes that if Gauff meets Swiatek at Wimbledon, it will likely be a totally completely different state of affairs for each gamers because the American is working with Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick’s ex-coach Brad Gilbert, whereas her recreation can be extra pure to grass than Swiatek’s.
Rusedski explains why Wimbledon could possibly be Gauff’s likelihood in opposition to Swiatek
When Wimbledon begins, Gauff will arrive in nice kind and with matches underneath her belt, having reached the ultimate at this week’s WTA 500 event in Berlin. On the opposite facet, Swiatek will solely have observe after pulling out of Berlin and never taking a wildcard into any of subsequent week’s grass occasions.
“Effectively I feel, if you happen to take a look at her (Swiatek), she’s received 4 French Opens, one US Open,” Rusedski mentioned on Tennis Channel’s Inside-In.
“For Coco, let’s be sincere, grass in opposition to Iga, she’s licking her lips. She’s pondering, ‘That’s my time to begin squaring up this rivalry’. She got here to the forefront when she beat Venus Williams and introduced herself to the world and the British public at Wimbledon [in 2019].
“And I feel Brad Gilbert has executed an ideal job together with her, and I feel they’re in all probability saying, ‘Okay, semis [at the French Open] is strong, we didn’t play our greatest within the semis. However now we bought Wimbledon approaching, that is our one after profitable the US Open final 12 months.’
“So I feel the rivalry will likely be there, however on clay (Swiatek), it’s like watching Rafa. We’ve bought [Roger] Federer, [Novak] Djokovic, [Andy] Murray, [Stan] Wawrinka, all these guys. I’m sorry, it’s simply, that’s what Swiatek is now.
“I’m hoping that Coco can convey her A-game to Wimbledon this 12 months and has bought an actual shot to win. Let’s not overlook [Aryna] Sabalenka bought sick this 12 months on the French.
“And there’s a couple of different names, there’s [Elena] Rybakina and gamers like that on the grass courts. So Wimbledon’s extensive open. And also you’re speaking about Wimbledon developing — Swiatek shouldn’t be one of many favorites for the title.”
Gauff’s confession after her newest defeat to Swiatek
After getting bounced in straight units in every of her first seven matches in opposition to Swiatek, Gauff earned a three-set win over the world No. 1 on the arduous courts of Cincinnati final 12 months. However since then, the 23-year-old Pole has had 4 straight-set wins over the 20-year-old.
Earlier than taking up Swiatek within the French Open semifinal, Gauff mentioned she believed that she might do it. And when the match began, the American was going for her photographs and was wanting very aggressive on the market. However sadly for her, the brand new five-time Grand Slam champion tamed her recreation and once more clinched a routine win.
After the match, Gauff – who simply turned 20 in March – admitted that she wish to discover a profitable formulation in opposition to Swiatek and cease the Pole’s dominance of their conferences.
“I can not sit right here and say it is one thing I am not going to wish to flip round. I’ve to be optimistic and consider in myself. Immediately I felt very assured going into the match. I do know that there are issues that I can enhance to make this a better scoreline,” Gauff mentioned.
“Like, first-serve proportion was fairly low, I feel. From Rome to this week I improved lots on my serve. Despite the fact that it is not the place I would like it to be, however going from, like, 15 double faults to possibly three or 4 immediately, I do not know, it is a massive enchancment.
“I do not really feel like my recreation is all the best way developed but. I really feel like once I attain my peak, then I can possibly reply the query, however I do not assume I am there but.”
Since Gauff is the brand new world No. 2, she’s going to enter Wimbledon because the second seed so assembly Swiatek might probably solely come within the closing.
